<div style="margin-left:0%; margin-right:0%">
<div class="title">
THE BOOK OF<br/>
<span class=large>JUDGES</span>
</div>
<div class="subtitle">
CHAPTER 9
</div>
<div class="summary">
Gideon’s son Abimelech is made king—He slays his seventy brothers—Jotham tells a parabolic fable of trees choosing a king—Shechemites conspire against Abimelech—He is slain at Thebez.
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="1"></a>
<div id="judg/9/1" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;1 <span class='smallcaps'>
And</span> Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="2"></a>
<div id="judg/9/2" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;2 
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether <i>is</i> better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, <i>which</i> <i>are</i> threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you?  remember also that I <i>am</i> your bone and your flesh.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="3"></a>
<div id="judg/9/3" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;3 
And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He <i>is</i> our brother.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="4"></a>
<div id="judg/9/4" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;4 
And they gave him threescore and ten <i>pieces</i> of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/4a" mark="a" type="B" title="TG Tyranny.">hired</a> <sup>b</sup><a href="judg/9/4b" mark="b" type="P" title="HEB empty (or idle) and reckless (or violent).">vain</a> and light persons, which followed him.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="5"></a>
<div id="judg/9/5" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;5 
And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, <i>being</i> threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="6"></a>
<div id="judg/9/6" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;6 
And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/6a" mark="a" type="P" title="HEB terebinth tree.">plain</a> of the pillar that <i>was</i> in Shechem.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="7"></a>
<div id="judg/9/7" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;7 
&#182; And when they told <i>it</i> to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/7a" mark="a" type="A" title="Deut. 11: 29.">Gerizim</a>, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="8"></a>
<div id="judg/9/8" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;8 
The trees went forth <i>on a time</i> to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="9"></a>
<div id="judg/9/9" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;9 
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/9a" mark="a" type="P" title="HEB gods and men; i.e. in ritual services.">God</a> and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="10"></a>
<div id="judg/9/10" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;10 
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, <i>and</i> reign over us.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="11"></a>
<div id="judg/9/11" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;11 
But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="12"></a>
<div id="judg/9/12" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;12 
Then said the trees unto the <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/12a" mark="a" type="B" title="TG Vineyard of the Lord.">vine</a>, Come thou, <i>and</i> reign over us.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="13"></a>
<div id="judg/9/13" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;13 
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/13a" mark="a" type="P" title="HEB tirosh-fresh or new wine.">wine</a>, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="14"></a>
<div id="judg/9/14" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;14 
Then said all the trees unto the <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/14a" mark="a" type="D" title="OR thistle (also v. 15).">bramble</a>, Come thou, <i>and</i> reign over us.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="15"></a>
<div id="judg/9/15" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;15 
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, <i>then</i> come <i>and</i> put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/15a" mark="a" type="A" title="Ezek. 19: 14 (10-14).">fire</a> come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="16"></a>
<div id="judg/9/16" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;16 
Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="17"></a>
<div id="judg/9/17" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;17 
(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="18"></a>
<div id="judg/9/18" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;18 
And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he <i>is</i> your brother;)
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="19"></a>
<div id="judg/9/19" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;19 
If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, <i>then</i> rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="20"></a>
<div id="judg/9/20" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;20 
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="21"></a>
<div id="judg/9/21" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;21 
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/21a" mark="a" type="A" title="Num. 21: 16.">Beer</a>, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="22"></a>
<div id="judg/9/22" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;22 
&#182; When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="23"></a>
<div id="judg/9/23" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;23 
Then God <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/23a" mark="a" type="A" title="Judg. 9: 57 (56-57).">sent</a> an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="24"></a>
<div id="judg/9/24" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;24 
That the cruelty <i>done</i> to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="25"></a>
<div id="judg/9/25" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;25 
And the men of Shechem set <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/25a" mark="a" type="A" title="Josh. 8: 13.">liers</a> in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="26"></a>
<div id="judg/9/26" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;26 
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="27"></a>
<div id="judg/9/27" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;27 
And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode <i>the</i> <i>grapes,</i> and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="28"></a>
<div id="judg/9/28" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;28 
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who <i>is</i> Abimelech, and who <i>is</i> Shechem, that we should serve him?  <i>is</i> not <i>he</i> the son of Jerubbaal?  and Zebul his officer?  serve the men of <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/28a" mark="a" type="A" title="Gen. 34: 2 (2, 6).">Hamor</a> the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="29"></a>
<div id="judg/9/29" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;29 
And would to God this people were under my hand!  then would I remove Abimelech.  And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="30"></a>
<div id="judg/9/30" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;30 
&#182; And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="31"></a>
<div id="judg/9/31" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;31 
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/31a" mark="a" type="P" title="HEB (probably) incite the city.">fortify</a> the city against thee.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="32"></a>
<div id="judg/9/32" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;32 
Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that <i>is</i> with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="33"></a>
<div id="judg/9/33" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;33 
And it shall be, <i>that</i> in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, <i>when</i> he and the people that <i>is</i> with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="34"></a>
<div id="judg/9/34" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;34 
&#182; And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that <i>were</i> with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="35"></a>
<div id="judg/9/35" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;35 
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that <i>were</i> with him, from lying in wait.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="36"></a>
<div id="judg/9/36" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;36 
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains.  And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as <i>if</i> <i>they</i> <i>were</i> men.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="37"></a>
<div id="judg/9/37" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;37 
And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/37a" mark="a" type="P" title="HEB the oak of the diviners.">the</a> plain of Meonenim.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="38"></a>
<div id="judg/9/38" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;38 
Then said Zebul unto him, Where <i>is</i> now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who <i>is</i> Abimelech, that we should serve him?  <i>is</i> not this the people that thou hast despised?  go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="39"></a>
<div id="judg/9/39" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;39 
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="40"></a>
<div id="judg/9/40" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;40 
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown <i>and</i> wounded, <i>even</i> unto the entering of the gate.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="41"></a>
<div id="judg/9/41" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;41 
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="42"></a>
<div id="judg/9/42" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;42 
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="43"></a>
<div id="judg/9/43" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;43 
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people <i>were</i> come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="44"></a>
<div id="judg/9/44" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;44 
And Abimelech, and the company that <i>was</i> with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two <i>other</i> companies ran upon all <i>the</i> <i>people</i> that <i>were</i> in the fields, and slew them.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="45"></a>
<div id="judg/9/45" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;45 
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that <i>was</i> therein, and beat down the city, and <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/45a" mark="a" type="D" title="IE covered the soil with | salt, supposed to ensure desolation.">sowed</a> it with salt.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="46"></a>
<div id="judg/9/46" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;46 
&#182; And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard <i>that,</i> they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="47"></a>
<div id="judg/9/47" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;47 
And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="48"></a>
<div id="judg/9/48" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;48 
And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that <i>were</i> with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid <i>it</i> on his shoulder, and said unto the people that <i>were</i> with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, <i>and</i> do as I <i>have</i> <i>done.</i>
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="49"></a>
<div id="judg/9/49" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;49 
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put <i>them</i> to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="50"></a>
<div id="judg/9/50" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;50 
&#182; Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="51"></a>
<div id="judg/9/51" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;51 
But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut <i>it</i> to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="52"></a>
<div id="judg/9/52" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;52 
And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="53"></a>
<div id="judg/9/53" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;53 
And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/53a" mark="a" type="A" title="2 Sam. 11: 21.">Abimelech</a>’s head, and all to brake his skull.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="54"></a>
<div id="judg/9/54" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;54 
Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him.  And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="55"></a>
<div id="judg/9/55" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;55 
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="56"></a>
<div id="judg/9/56" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;56 
&#182; Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
</div>
</div>
<div class="verse"><a name="57"></a>
<div id="judg/9/57" onclick='return toggleMarked(event, this)'>
&nbsp;&nbsp;57 
And all the <sup>a</sup><a href="judg/9/57a" mark="a" type="A" title="Judg. 9: 23.">evil</a> of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
</div>
</div>
